Joseph Laniel

Joseph Laniel (12 October 1889-8 April 1975) was Prime Minister of France from 28 June 1953 to 18 June 1954, succeeding Rene Mayer and preceding Pierre Mendes France.

Biography
Joseph Laniel was born in Vimoutiers, France in 1889, and he served as a deputy for Calvados from 1932 to 1958 and as Under-Secretary of State for Paul Reynaud's 1940 government, voting to grant Philippe Petain dictatorial powers during the Battle of France. However, he later turned against Vichy France and was at the side of Charles de Gaulle and Georges Bidault during their triumphal entry into Paris on 26 August 1944. In 1945, he founded the Republican Party of Liberty, which went on to merge with CNIP in 1951. From 1953 to 1954, Laniel served as Prime Minister, but his cabinet was overturned after the disastrous Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. He left politics in 1958 and died in 1975.